Sri Lanka Hits Back: UK Sanctions Complicate Reconciliation Efforts

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism says that unilateral actions by the UK government to impose sanctions on three former military commanders complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka.

It added that the government is actively strengthening domestic mechanisms for accountability and reconciliation, asserting that any past human rights violations should be addressed through these domestic channels.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has conveyed the position of the Government of Sri Lanka to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism.

The Ministry said that has taken note of the the press release issued by the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on March 24, 2025, titled "UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War."

The UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals, three of whom are former military commanders of the Sri Lankan armed forces.